healthmedicinet

The treatment, the first of its kind to get FDA approval, was created by Dignitata, a Swedish company that specializes in medical scalp-cooling technology. Right now, the system has only been approved for breast cancer patients, but trials will start soon for other types of cancers. It has already been used in the U.K. for men undergoing chemo for prostate cancer. 

“Some of today’s most powerful, life-saving chemotherapy treatments still cause complete hair loss, a side effect that many women consider to be emotionally devastating,” says Hope S. Rugo, M.D., director of breast oncology and clinical trials education at the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center in a press release issued by Dignitata. “For the past several years, we’ve worked closely with Dignitana to conduct rigorous clinical trials that demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of the DigniCap system. This FDA clearance means that for many cancer patients in the U.S., chemo-induced hair loss will no longer be a distressing concern.”

According to Dignitata, during the clinical trials done in the U.S., seven out of 10 women kept at least 50 percent of their hair when using the scalp cooling system during chemo treatments. The company says the most common complaint was feeling chilliness during use of the cap but that no serious adverse affects were reported.

Now that it’s gotten FDA approval, Dignitata is finalizing agreements with major cancer centers across the country to offer the scalp cooling system to breast cancer patients. It will cost between $1,500 and $3,000, Dignitana chief operating officer Bill Cronin tells CBS News. This is a huge step forward and will help many women retain a sense of normalcy while going through cancer treatment.